Global Air Cargo Demand Rises 4% in April Despite Middle East Disruptions

Global air cargo demand increased by 4.0% year on year in April 2026, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). While cargo capacity declined by 0.4%, the cargo load factor improved by 1.9 percentage points to 46.0%, reflecting stronger utilization of available capacity. Asia Pacific airlines led growth with a 10.5% increase in demand, followed by Europe at 6.0% and North America at 5.0%. In contrast, Middle Eastern carriers saw demand fall by 18.2% amid ongoing regional conflict. IATA noted that strong Asia-linked trade flows continue to support the market, although geopolitical uncertainty and rising fuel costs remain key challenges.